Australia’s Rinky Hijikata into men’s doubles final at Wimbledon

A second grand slam doubles title, and a $1.4m payday, is within the grasp of Australian Rinky Hijikata after powering into the men’s final at Wimbledon having come from the clouds with his Dutch partner.

Hijikata, who won the 2023 Australian Open doubles title, and David Pel were not even supposed to be in the main draw having been alternates before a late withdrawal.

They had barely spoken before the tournament but now are just one win away from entering the history books after toppling No.1 seeds Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavic in a thrilling semi-final.

Hijikata and Pel stared down two match points, down 9-7 in the final set tie-break, saved them both before Hijikata hammered a crosscourt forehand winner to seal an emotional 6-7(7-2) 7-6(7-5) 7-6(11-9) triumph.

“I hit the forehand and couldn’t even hear if it was in or out with the crowd going nuts,” Hijikata, who won his previous grand slam title with fellow Aussie Jason Kubler, told Stan Sport after the chaotic finish.

“There’s some parallels with the AO and Kubes. Similar story, (we) weren’t in the tournament to begin with.

“These moments are kind of the ones you play for and (the ones) you work so hard for.”

Hijikata and Pel will be up against it in the final, taking on the all-British team of Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash on centre court with $1.4m going to the winning pair.

Australian pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell lost last year’s Wimbledon final.

Rising Australian star Emerson Jones had her hopes of revenge for a loss in last year’s girls’ final quashed, with the junior world No.1 going down to Slovakian Mia Pohankova 6-2 6-2 in the quarter-finals.